I was in LA for the ACP journalism convention from Thursday 2/18-Sunday 2/21. Overall, it was a great trip! I made great friends, bonded with some great co-workers and learned some new skills to bring back to the office and for my future in writing. I also happened to land myself in an ER. It all started early Friday morning when I was trying to go to sleep. Not only did I notice that it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest but I felt like shit. I was nauseous, dizzy, had bad leg and feet cramps, and was having body tremors. Since I didn't want to wake people, I decided to text my mom (since she works overnights). I took my meds to help my nervous system calm down. So I texted my mom until the meds kicked in and of course took a bath. Baths help my body calm down but I can't take too hot of baths because that will make my body hate itself even more (dehydration). Did I mention that my face was really flushed? Well, it was and it was bad. So, the bath and meds helped a little bit. I still had a high heart rate in the 130's. It all finally calmed down and I was able to get a couple hours of sleep. I woke up feeling terrible. I had a headache, small unnoticeable tremors, and fast heart rate. I decided to try to go to a two sessions and eat some breakfast because I thought it would make me feel better. It did. I felt pretty good the rest of the day until supper time. We were at the Universal City Walkway, which was a couple blocks away from our hotel. I was having a blast and even made sure to take my meds before going there. I didn't want to take any chances on having a flare-up during that time because I wanted to enjoy my time in LA, with all of the great people I was with. So, we explored the City Walkway, it was so beautiful and colorful. There were lights shining everywhere. I had thought to myself why we hadn't gone there sooner. But it was also only the second night we were there. When we finally picked a place to eat, that is when I started to not feel good. I got so nauseous and could feel my body just rejecting itself, I was starting to shake but not enough for others to notice. I tried to hold out and just sat there in silence wondering if my symptoms would ease up or get worse. They continued to get worse. I thought to myself if I see any food that I would probably puke. That is when I decided to go to the bathroom; I tried to breath through it, calm my sympathetic nervous system down...it didn't work. I called my mom, she didn't answer. Then my friend came into the bathroom asking if I was ok. I am like, "not really." I tried my hardest to explain to to her what was going on. Then my mom called me back and I told her what was happening and I asked her if I should go to the ER just to feel better, so I don't have to go through another night of hell. And when I usually go into the ER after/during a bad flare-up it helps me feel better and almost symptom free for the next couple of days, so I figured that since I wasn't going home anytime soon that I would just go in and my mom agreed. I felt good enough to walk the couple blocks back to the hotel where we would meet up with the faculty advisor/professor that went on the trip with us. Although, my friend did help me walk as I put my arm around her and I just vented about my life with POTS. By the time we got to the hotel my symptoms were obviously worse and I was dizzy. We got a taxi and went to an ER. I don't even know where it was or the name of it other than it was called Saint-something. I was so brain fogged, I had a hard time filling out the information when I got there. We had a long wait, I don't even know how long, my sense of time was distorted in so many ways. The two hour time difference, and just being completely out of it. I honestly thought I was going to pass out because the lady took forever just to get me 'checked-in' and I felt like I was standing forever. I think it took a couple hours of waiting, doing an EKG, and finally getting a wheelchair before I actually got my own room to get meds and IV saline solution. I needed a wheelchair because I was not only dizzy and lightheaded but my feet and legs were so cramped, weak, swollen and blood was pooling in my feet. I got my IV saline solution, some anti-nausea meds and they gave me morphine for the pain. Which in all honesty, I was grateful for but thought it was odd. I am glad that I got it because my pain got so much better. I was having bad body tremors throughout the entire time I was there but they were not always noticeable. When they were noticeable I had my friend record them just to show people what they look like. Then after about an hour of getting meds and feeling better, finally. I was discharged and just felt exhausted and tired. I was still a little shaky but that was ok. I just wanted to get some sleep. I got back to the hotel and took a bath to relax a little bit more before I went to bed. Then, I went to bed and slept so well...it was kind of amazing. Then the next day I took like two cat naps and felt like 100% that night. And we all ended up going out and having a blast!!
Since this post is so long, I will write two separate posts going into the detail of the asshole ER doctor that I had and how thankful I am for my friend Rikka and the faculty/professor David for everything that they did for me.
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